mountain lion

[Walt]

On my 0430 walk this morning there was a mountain lion shrieking by a neighbor's house about 75 yards away. My game cameras didn't catch it coming down the driveway but it was nearby.

[.45colt]

I'd like to hear that Walt. The big news around here was a Black Bear Sunday down the street . .

[Bill in Oregon]

I don't trust the cats, Walt. They are just too sneaky.

[GunnyMack]

You can say that again Bill!
I was walking down my driveway the other evening and I jumped a 2 yr old bear cub. It sauntered off then stopped and tried to get my wind. I started talking to it and moving towards it and off it went. Seems bear comfort zone is about 50 yards as I've not been able to walk any closer to them.
Worst was the day I almost hit one on my 4wheeler!

[samsi]

Cougar screams in the night are disconcerting. 20-odd years ago my then girlfriend and I went camping in the forest NW of Heber AZ, taking a stroll on an old two-track up through the pines around sunset. I happened to glance off to our right and caught the faintest glimpse through the trees of the rear end and tail of a cougar paralleling us - it was quick enough that I questioned whether I'd actually seen it. Later after dinner and drinks by the fire we turned in, taking the lantern into the tent. As soon as I turned out the light a (the?) cougar screamed on the other side of the draw we were camped in. I suspect it had set there all evening after stalking us on the walk and was upset that we declined to accommodate it by falling asleep by the fire. No issues during the night but I did have a revolver close by.

[ollogger]

bout 2 years ago a lion screamed just out side of my open window, i was sleeping
i jumped out of bed so fast i gave my self whip lash


bout 35 years ago when i lived in Wisconsin i had a giant black bear charge me, that was
one of the times i didnt have a gun ( since then i always have a gun on me ) I scared it off
cuz im sure it never heard a human sound the way i did, heck i never knew i could sound like that


ollogger

[Walt]

Good one, ollogger! I love it....

[jeepnik]

I've had a few come in while calling for coyotes. They never get that close. And they always come from down wind which usually means from behind. I think it's mostly curiosity on their part. I've had a couple of black bears come as well. But none of them has ever been a problem. I figure most just leave when they scent a human.

I have to admit I did spend over an hour watching a bobcat mom and her kittens. I was with a friend out past Fawnskin on Big Bear Lake. We Had stopped to eat a late lunch. Didn't realize the family was living in the rocks below us. I figure she either didn't know we were there or didn't care. Having seen what a small house cat can do I sure as heck don't want to deal with an angry bobcat mommy.

[Paladin]

At the house in AZ, we see them now and then. The first time was at 0200 when it killed a javelina about 40 yards from the back porch and wound up both me and my Rhodesian Ridgeback for half an hour while it slowly killed it.
These were 300 yards from the house, a few months after they left their mother. The father was a large male, very dark in color. The primary reason I carry a rifle when walking the dogs

Lions.jpg

[Bill in Oregon]

They really are gorgeous critters, aren't they?

[JimT]

They really are gorgeous critters, aren't they?

Yes they are.
And like more gorgeous critters in the wild, they ain't huggable.